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Convenience Sampling
Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling technique where subjects are selected
because of their convenient accessibility and proximity to the researcher.

Convenience Sampling, Explorable

The subjects are selected just because they are easiest to recruit for the study and the
researcher did not consider selecting subjects that are representative of the entire population.

In all forms of research, it would be ideal to test the entire population, but in most cases, the
population is just too large that it is impossible to include every individual. This is the reason
why most researchers rely on sampling techniques like convenience sampling, the most
common of all sampling techniques. Many researchers prefer this sampling technique
because it is fast, inexpensive, easy and the subjects [1] are readily available.

Examples
One of the most common examples of convenience sampling is using student volunteers as
subjects for the research. Another example is using subjects that are selected from a clinic, a
class or an institution that is easily accessible to the researcher. A more concrete example is
choosing five people from a class or choosing the first five names from the list of patients.

In these examples, the researcher inadvertently excludes a great proportion of the population.
A convenience sample is either a collection of subjects that are accessible or a self selection
of individuals willing to participate which is exemplified by your volunteers.

Uses
Researchers use convenience sampling not just because it is easy to use, but because it also
has other research advantages.

In pilot studies [2], convenience sample is usually used because it allows the researcher to
obtain basic data and trends regarding his study without the complications of using a
randomized sample [3].

This sampling technique is also useful in documenting that a particular quality of a substance
or phenomenon occurs within a given sample. Such studies are also very useful for detecting
relationships among different phenomena.

Criticisms
The most obvious criticism about convenience sampling is sampling bias and that the sample
is not representative of the entire population. This may be the biggest disadvantage when
using a convenience sample because it leads to more problems and criticisms.

Systematic bias [4] stems from sampling bias. This refers to a constant difference between the
results [5] from the sample and the theoretical results from the entire population. It is not rare
that the results from a study that uses a convenience sample differ significantly with the
results from the entire population. A consequence of having systematic bias is obtaining
skewed results.

Another significant criticism about using a convenience sample is the limitation in

generalization [6] and inference making about the entire population. Since the sample is not
representative of the population, the results of the study cannot speak for the entire
population. This results to a low external validity [7] of the study.

Notes
When using convenience sampling, it is necessary to describe how your sample would differ
from an ideal sample that was randomly selected. It is also necessary to describe the
individuals who might be left out during the selection process or the individuals who are
overrepresented in the sample.

In connection to this, it is better if you can describe the possible effects of the people who
were left out or the subjects that are overrepresented to your results. This will allow the
readers of your research to get a good grasp of the sample that you were testing [8]. It will also
enable them to estimate the possible difference between your results and the results from the
entire population.

Source URL: https://explorable.com/convenience-sampling

Links:
[1] https://explorable.com/social-science-subjects, [2] https://explorable.com/pilot-study, [3]
https://explorable.com/randomized-controlled-trials, [4] https://explorable.com/systematic-error, [5]
https://explorable.com/statistically-significant-results, [6] https://explorable.com/what-is-generalization, [7]
https://explorable.com/external-validity, [8] https://explorable.com/hypothesis-testing, [9]
https://explorable.com/, [10] https://explorable.com/convenience-sampling